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The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Thursday 30th March 2023, debated and ratified a financial agreement for the socio-economic development of the State.
The following agreement was ratified by Parliament:
Financing agreement between the European Commission and the Republic of Sierra Leone ( Transformational energy access for Sierra Leone ).
Presenting the Government Motion, the Minister of Finance, Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura said the purpose of the grant agreement is to increase renewable energy for electricity supply for the State and other agricultural-related development. He said the grant is a fifty million euros project that is also geared towards increasing electricity generation and also to promote renewable energy.
He said also that, the project is expected to generate a six-megawatt electricity supply. He went on to highlight the benefits that would be derived from the project for the development of Sierra Leone.
He assured Parliament that, the grant would strengthen the capacity of the agricultural sector.
In his submission to the debate, the Parliamentary Chairman of the Finance Committee, Hon. Francis Amara-Kai Samba said the agreement is non-controversial and said that the Government had spent a lot of money on energy supply. He said an agreement like this would also help to boost the energy as well as the agriculture sector and went on to call his colleague MPs to support the project.
On his part. Hon Lahai Marrah states that the agreement is non-controversial and he is in support of the agreement. He heaped praises on the EU for the support of Sierra Leone, which according to him is geared towards the development of the State.
He used the opportunity to implore on EU to continue its support to promote political dialogue and political cohesion in Sierra Leone.
Hon. Ibrahim Allieu Kamara commended the EU support for the development of Sierra Leone. He highlighted the achievement of the Government, in light of increasing and accessing electricity supply, and went on to highlight the statistical data on electricity supply generated so far by the Government.
On his part, the Leader of NGC in Parliament, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella commended the EU for supporting the renewable energy supply in the country. He said the grant would support the energy and agricultural sector and went on to plea to Minister on the need for energy subsidies for the people.
He called on the EU and Government to support clean cooking energy to avoid deforestation.
Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay in her submission said the agreement is a blessing to the country, in light of the grant and went on to commend the Government and EU for supporting development in Sierra Leone. She called on the Parliamentary Committees to do the needful to monitor the implementation of the project.
In rounding up the debate, the Acting Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Hassan Sesay said they as the opposition would always support what is good for the nation and went on to commend the EU for supporting the socio-economic development of the State. He also said that the grant would impact hugely the economy and also the agriculture sector.
He advised the House to observe the rules in the grant, relative to implementation, to avoid problems with EU support to Sierra Leone.
In concluding the debate, the Acting Leader of Government Business Hon.Bashiru Silikie commended the Minister for moving the ratification of the agreement. He said the agreement showed that the international partners still have confidence in the Current Government.
According to him, the grant project would increase the electricity supply for the nation, and went on to commend MPs who had contributed immensely to the debate, in tandem with the development.
